Reviews

I am not sure how I came across this episode,but as a huge fan of John Raitt I am very glad I did. When the power went out in the diner, Jane Curtin suggested singing show tunes and "Trucker Gil" turn around,takes off his hat and I saw that shock of white hair, I wanted to cheer! Then "Gil" says "I reckon I can do that" I wanted the episode to go on forever just to hear that voice! I have to admit that I didn't watch third rock as much as I should have,but this episode was well worth a second look. I never did see it again,but am considering purchasing the DVD just to be thrilled again.

Thanks so much Lee Ann in Ohio

I saw this movie originally on the "Wonderful world of Disney",long before I read the book for an education class in college. I also taught my 8th grade language arts class part of James Otis' wonderful speech about the price of independence. I do not remember if the speech is in the film,but if it was it was wasted because the powers that be at Disney in 1956 decided to change the ending. A previous review mentioned the same thing... by not allowing the character of Rab Silsbee to die after the Battle of Lexington, the entire perspective of the film disappears. I once had a father ask me if it was OK if his son,who did not want to read the book, watched the movie , I told him sure, if he wanted to fail the class.... the teacher would have known immediately that he had not read the book,because he would have no clue about "that a man can stand up".

That said, the movie is well cast,especially the characters of Dr Warren, Paul Revere and James Otis.(Jeff York as always was wonderful).

Hal Stalmaster, who never to my knowledge made another film is just fair as Johnny.Dick(Richard)Beymer is a little goofy as Rab and has fun with the part(unfortunately it doesn't go anywhere.)Luana Patten as Cilla was too old for the part. A previous reviewer said that this film is ripe for a remake. I totally agree. Lets make a film(made for TV or otherwise that really does this literary treasure justice!

The biggest mistake that Neil Diamond made in doing this film was calling it "The jazz singer",because it is not a remake of the classic Jolson film. That said, let me say that i really enjoyed this film.

Diamond does and admirable job as the young would be cantor caught between his love of music and his love for his father, and he doesn't seem to be intmidated by the fact that Laurence Olivier plays his father. The film moves fairly well once Yussel decides to follow his dream and pursue a career in music. It probably isn't the best movie ev er made, but it is certainly worth a look. And the music score is wonderful. "America" (coming to America) became an anthem for immigrants at the time the movie was made.

Definitely worth a look

I personally enjoyed this film very much. It is a sweet trip to bygone times when musicals were just good entertainment. The character actors in it, (Cuddles Sakall in particular, and Louis Calhern as the king.) Edumund Purdom does an excellent job in the uneviable position of literally standing in for Mario Lanza.(And he's probably a better all around actor).There is an urban legend that says that Lanza is actually in one sequence in the film, and I think I have found it.

It is the beautiful scene in the cathedral after the old king has dies and Karl is standing in front of the catalfalque. There is a very wide angle shot of him singing 'I'll walk with God' and then a close up of Purdom. I really do think that this is the scene my friend was talking about. Anybody else think so??

As a history buff , I really enjoyed this short lived series. I wonder if it might have fared better if the powers that be had waited until 1976 to put it on.

The young(at that time) cast was excellent, especially Louis Gossett , Alex Henteloff, and Phillip Foulquet at Lafayette. It also featured some terrific guest appearances over its short run.(Brandon DeWilde, in one of his last appearances as Nathan Hale comes to mind.

Also Eric Braeden as a mad(as in crazy) Hessian officer(no typecasting there)Gary Lockwood as a friend of the Larkins who turned out to be a traitor, and Frank Converse as Jeremy's hero brother, who was killed off in the first episode. And who could forget Will Geer as the crusty mayor. If this comes around on DVD I think I'll buy it.

I think I lost this the first time.

I am so delighted that this terrific mini series is finally available.

My mother gave the the book that it is based on many years ago. The mini is quite faithful to that book. (By the way),unless i am mistaken, Lillian Rogers Parks lived to be almost 100 years old, and was a consultant on the film.

This series has one of the best ensemble cast ever assembled. Leslie Uggams and Olivia Cole as Lillian and Maggie are superb, although Uggams may be too tall...Remember Lillian was crippled by polio at a very young age, and was less than 5 feet tall, but why quibble. Robert Hooks and Louis Gossett are great as Maggie and Lillian's friends, Mays and Mercer.

The Presidents and their first ladies represent the best from Television, film and Broadway. One of the best sequences in the film involves Calvin Coolidge(well played by Ed Flanders)taking on the head housekeeper, Mrs Jaffray( A wonderful Cloris Leachman.. shades of Frau Blucher!), when she attempts to tell everyone to stop tracking up "her" floor(They are trying to shore up the roof). President Coolidge says, "Mrs Jaffray, wouldn't you be happier in Buckingham Palace??

Julie Harris as Nellie Taft is splendid in this film,especially when Maggie and President Taft(A rotund Victor Buono) help her learn to speak after a stroke. Also effective are Celeste Holm and George Kennedy as the Hardings.(Can we say scandal). Estelle Parsons, Harry Morgan and Nancy Morgan are also in top form. Robert Vaughn and Claire Bloom are very effective as the Wilsons.

Because they come along late in the story, Andrew Duggand and Barbara Barrie seem to get short shrift as the Eisenhowers.

(In a recent episode of the Food Channel's White House, reference is made to serving hotdogs to the British Royal family. According to Lillian, this really did happen at is a humorous bit when she tells the visiting royalty's staff.... you just try one with all the fixin's.

An excellent history lesson very well played out by a brilliant cast!

As i am writing this, a new series, "The book of Daniel" is about to premiere on NBC. Seeing the previews immediately brought to mind the wonderful,ill fated "Nothing sacred". Lets hope the powers that be give "daniel a better chance" As a high church cradle Episcopalian i really enjoyed "Nothing sacred". Kevin Anderson was terrific as Father Ray(and as I understand,he is a semi lapsed Catholic. One episode that sticks out in my mind featured a beautiful rendition of Panis Angelicus featuring Anderson, an unidentified soloist and guest star John Cullum that was amazing. Its too bad that the powers that be decided that the show was not proper....

Should be interesting to see how the whole thing pans out, and i \ would be in favor of releasing Nothing sacred on DVD !!

Lee Ann

I don't remember when I first saw this wonderful,under rated film.It is second only to "The the earth stood still" in my book. Did anyone beside me notice the resemblance between the three drones,Huey Louie and Dewey, and R2D2 in Star wars?? Bruce Dern is excellent as the keeper of the biosphere, very subtle and quiet. The film is a little scary in its environmental message,which may, 30 years later indeed come to pass. The film score is wonderful too,especially main theme sung by Joan Baez... As in "The day the earth stood still, simple is definitely better. I's been a long time since I saw this, but it seems to me that there was at least one more human in it(Cliff Potts, maybe,who wasn't a ver nice guy.

And i am not ashamed to admit that I have never seen Star wars!

Another group that i belong to was discussing Richard Basehart today and I mentioned his small but powerful performance as the defrocked(we assume) drunken priest in the 1953 version of Titanic. I am sure that most people don't even realize that there is more than one film version of titanic having been overwhelmed by the 1997 version. Basehart's performance as the priest who has been sent packing by the church is one of the lynch pins that hold this remarkable film together. Maybe it doesn't have the special effects of the later version,but the characters are much more clearly drawn. I much prefer this to the 1997 one.And its only an hour and a half long.(give or take a few minutes)

I promised my mother that I would once again put this wonderful movie on the video player this week end. There is a wonderful comment in the book "Lets put on a musical" about the fact that half way through the story you wonder if you really do know how it is going to end!

William Daniels,is of course spectacular as John Adams,the linchpin of the show. Howard DaSilva and Franklin is just jaded enough(read dirty old man), and Ken Howard is delightful as Jeffrson. One person who was not in the stage production but is a definite asset to the movie is John Cullum as Rutledge.especially in his big solo number,Molasses to Rum.

A real treat for eyes and ears ,and a history lesson to boot.

Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I am not a big fan of remakes, but in the case of "The Robe" i might make an exception. Although there are some superb performances in this film, in particular Jay Robinson's diabolical Caligula,and Victor Mature's stoic Demetrius, the film falls flat.Richard Burton, just doesn't cut it as

Marcellus,in fact, he acts bored. The film is not remotely close to the wonderful book,which is part of the problem. Michael Rennie as Peter is brilliant as always but underused.

Maybe we should try again.

I saw this film years ago on television AFTER I had read the excellent book on which it is very loosely based. What a disappointment!.So many integral characters are eliminated,ie, Gaetano Orselli, most of Stephens family, and several of his clergy friends. Although Tom(Thomas) Tryon, Burgess Meredith and John Huston are excellent, there is very little thread to tie them together in this over long film. And will someone please tell me why the character of Ghislana Falerni Orselli was turned into the student temptress for lack of a better term, Anne-Marie. The character only cheapened the film. Even today with the crises in the Roman Catholic church, this film is dated and downright silly. There was so much potential in the book that Preminger chose to ignore for the sake of heaven knows what. Maybe this one should be remade(NOT UPDATED,but using the original source to show how a man of the cloth really should behave.

I honestly dont remember when I first saw this remarkable film.(It had to be on television). It is a plain spoken film about a truly remarkable man. Richard Todd is amazing as Marshall.(according to Catherine Marshall's book "To live again", he was not quite physically right for the role, but he accent is and was superb. Jean Peters as Catherine is excellent also. Characters Les Tremayne and Marjorie Rambeau round out the excellent cast. A top ten!

When I was scannning the reviews of this excellent movie, I found one comment that really flipped me out... REMAKE A JOHN FORD CLASSIC like Sergeant Rutledge????? Good Lord, what are you thinking. I am basically opposed to most remakes anyway,but this film in particular has stood the test of time just fine.... As another reviewer said,it is NOT a typical John Ford film,but it has to be one of his best. Woody Strode,one of the most under rated black actors of his generation is superb as in the title role. I would have to do some research to see how many films he did for Ford..in this film he is amazing. Jeffrey Hunter as defense attorney Tom Cantrell also turns in an excellent performance,caught between the proverbial rock and hard place when he is 'forced' to defend Rutledge. Constance Towers as Hunter's conscience, the school teacher, Mary is also quite good. Comic relief is provided by Billie Burke(Glinda the good) as the commanding general's wife,who cannot understand why she cant sit in the front row.

I have drawn a complete blank as to the actor who plays the prosecutor at Rutledge's courtmartial, but he is also very good... shades of Hamilton Burger. As much as I respect Denzel Washington as an actor ,I can't imagine him agreeing to remake this excellent film.... as for Ben Affleck as Cantrell, NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS. As I said in a previous review, if it ain't broke,don't fix it.....Bearing in mind that Ford, Hunter and Strode are all gone, it just wouldnt be right.

Back in 1982 when ET first came out a patron of the library I work at told me that I HAD TO SEE THIS MOVIE,and to take a box of tissues with me. Bear in mind that this gentleman was a very urbane,if somewhat cynical college professor. Not the type I would have expected to recommend a film so highly. I took his advise. THANK YOU HOWARD. Next to "The day the earth stood still" ET ranks as my favorite sci-fi film of all time. The newly inhanced version is excellent too. Henry Thomas is delightful and the middle child ,Elliott who find and befriends ET. He is not "too cute",but gives a terrific performance,especially when ET telepathically makes him drunk.The end of the movie still makes me cry,maybe not a whole box of tissues worth by now,but there is just something about ET and Elliott's good bye that tears me up.The two principle adults, Dee Wallace(Stone) and Peter Coyote are good too. Coyote, who is only known as "Keys" is in some respects almost as innocent as Elliott, and you wish that he had been able to have more contact with ET. Although the scenes where the house is being sealed off is frightening, it still works. The scene where Elliot and his brother steal the van is priceless when older brother comes out with the memorable line "I've never driven forward before!" I am planning to buy this on DVD as soon as possible. ET,you can phone my home or visit any time

The first time I saw this film was on the old Saturday Night at the movies back in the early sixties. I have since bought the video.

I have had people tell me how depressing this movie is.Those folks have missed the point for years. We do know what fate befell Anne and her family and friends,but the overriding feeling is,as Anne says near the end of the film, that in time things can and will change. The entire cast is wonderful.Millie Perkins brings a charm and innocence to Anne that cannot be duplicated. Joseph Schildkraut and Gusti Huber as Anne's parents are different as day and night in their relationship to Anne.Shelley Winters deserved her Oscar as the 'ultimate Jewish mother" Mrs Van Daan. Lou Jacobi is superb as Mr Van Daan and Ed Wynn is brilliant as fussbudget Dussel. As a long time fan of Richard Beymer, I have to say that Peter remains his best work. The "First kiss" sequence still gives me goosebumps,and the final segment in the attic just before the SS arrives still brings tears. A bravo to Diane Baker as the long suffering Margot.

The fact that director George Stevens shot the film in black and white adds to the tension. I just hope it never gets colorized. I know that the film was nominated for Best Picture, but didnt stand a chance against "Ben Hur",although I would have picked it! When I travel I always take a copy of the book. If the movie comes out on DVD,I may take it too.

It had been years since I'd seen this film. It has been subject of a recent discussion by members of the Jeffrey Hunter group that I have just recently become a member of . As a previous reviewer commented, I would also buy it when and if it becomes available on video. Along with Seven Cities of Gold, it is one of Jeffrey Hunter's earliest outstanding performances, which he seldom gets the credit he deserves. As with most of the films that Hunter appears in with RJ Wagner, he gets short shrift. His performance as "Little Dog" is sensitive and realistic. Bearing in mind that the film was made in 1955,when the prevailing thought was "the only good Indian... well,you know, White feather stands up better than most.

I was so thrilled when "West Side Story was named the second best romantic movie of all time by AFI last year! Because I missed some of the show and they got to the top ten I was convinced that I had missed it or it hadnt made the list ......When they got to # 2 and the music started I was the one dancing in the street!. I don't care if the movie was dubbed and it took nearly 40 years to admit it.I have had a crush on Richard Beymer for years and have found myself championing his performance in West Side Story for ages.(Not that he needs it). I was watchin the movie for the umpteenth time ,and decided to look up reviews of the original stage play...I found many similar comments about Larry Kert's performance that were so familiar to Richards.Then it hit me.... There is not an actor who has ever played Tony that could have done any more with the part.Its the way its written. Tony,like Romeo is a fish out of water, searching for something that no one understands. So give that a rest,ok! George Chakiris and Rita Moreno pretty much do steal the show, and Russ Tamblyn looks like he's having so much fun...The character I really like the best is Anybodys,the girl Jet wannabe,and no I am not a tomboy. When she rescues Tony from the Sharks after the Rumble....(I think her name is Sue Oakes ,and I never saw her in anything else. Ned Glass as Doc and Simon Oakland as Krupke are also excellent. Thank you AFI for picking this favorite of mine. As one of the ads when the film first hit TV said, Unlike some movies, West Side Story grows younger.